Using MLA Format

Many students struggle when asked to write papers that include research, and
one particular skill they often find difficult is merging research information—quote,
paraphrase, etc.—into their own writing. This is a skill that takes practice
and guidance to master.

To help, here are several tips designed to help students integrate their researched
information effectively.

Note: This handout shows MLA documentation only, and it is written
directly to students.

Introduce your source in the present tense. Introducing your source allows
you to integrate source material with your own writing. It also allows you to
provide evidence of your source’s credibility. Read the following examples:

Clinical psychologist John Doe...

argues that...

points out that...

suggest...

believes...

According to Jane Doe, an expert in medical ethics, this law...

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that

(Verb Tip: When introducing your source, it’s a good idea to avoid the verb
"says." It’s vague, and therefore weak.)

Use your introduction to demonstrate your source’s credibility. Notice the
three examples above. In each, the writer tells us where the information or
ideas come from: a clinical psychologist, an expert in medical ethics, and a
widely known and well respected institution. This information helps us recognize
the source’s authority, or credibility, and allows us to trust what we read.

Quote or paraphrase your source accurately. Quotes require you to use exact
language, while paraphrasing requires you to convey borrowed ideas or
information in your own words. Consult an appropriate text and/or your
instructor for help with this, especially with paraphrase, to avoid plagiarizing.

Use parenthetical citations when necessary. Parenthetical citations are necessary
for print sources. However, when using electronic sources, these citations are
sometimes necessary, sometimes not. Be sure you understand your instructor’s
requirements regarding these citations, and consult an appropriate MLA resource
(2009 or later) for help.

Note the following examples as illustrations of the principles listed above:

John Doe, a clinical psychologist, points out that "diagnoses in this
area are difficult to make, and incorrect diagnoses can yield serious
consequences" (33). (From a print source, with Doe appearing on the
Works Cited page.)

One noted clinical psychologist points out that "diagnoses in this area
are difficult to make, and incorrect diagnoses can yield serious
consequences" (Doe). (From an electronic source, with Doe appearing
on the Works Cited page.)

John Doe, a clinical psychologist, points out that "diagnoses in this
area are difficult to make, and incorrect diagnoses can yield serious
consequences." (From an electronic source, with Doe appearing on the
Works Cited page.)

Note: There are several other ways to provide internal citations. Consult
an appropriate resource—e.g., your course text, your instructor’s handouts,
library handouts, electronic references, and so on—for more information.

Respond to the source material in your essay. You might elaborate on it, explain it,
refute it, and so on. Just be sure you respond. Read the following paragraphs,
with the author’s response in bold print.

Direct Quote

Of course, the big question is whether executing convicted murderers is ever
really justifiable. And some believe it is not. Noted ethicist Jeremy Anderson, for
example, argues that "killing people who have killed is never appropriate in a
society that deems itself civilized; no matter how we rationalize it, it compromises
us as a people" (43). Anderson’s argument cannot be overlooked or cast aside,
for it provides us with a fundamental truth about capital punishment—it
requires the conscious taking of another human life and thus diminishes us as
human beings.

Non-quoted Information

Capital punishment, however, may well be an effective deterrent. Recent
statistics indicate that the murder rate in each of the seven states adopting capital
punishment in the last nine years has decreased, and these decreases adding up to a
collective 27.3% ("The Death Penalty: A Raging Debate"). While the death
penalty itself may not account for this entire decrease, it certainly seems
apparent that it has been a contributing factor—that it is indeed serving as a
deterrent.

Create a Works Cited entry for each source you use. See your course text or another
current resource for help with this.